New York Clergy Sexual Abuse
Clergy sexual abuse is a significant issue among New York’s Catholic dioceses and other religious institutions, and thousands of survivors have come forward to file lawsuits in recent years. If you or a loved one experienced New York clergy sexual abuse, Helping Survivors may be able to connect you with legal professionals to evaluate your case. Get legal help today.
- New York’s eight Catholic dioceses have faced thousands of lawsuits regarding alleged child sexual abuse by clergy members since 2019.
- In May 2026, the Archdiocese of New York reached a settlement agreement to pay $800 million in compensation to survivors of sexual abuse by clergy members.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse by clergy in New York, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
Overview of Clergy Sexual Abuse Allegations in New York
Since New York passed the Child Victims Act in 2019 and the subsequent Adult Survivors Act in 2022, thousands of survivors of clergy sexual abuse have filed lawsuits against religious institutions across the state.
The Child Victims Act extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse to allow survivors until age 55 to file lawsuits, as well as created a lookback window for previously time-barred cases that was open from August 2019 to August 2021. The Adult Survivors Act temporarily lifted the civil statute of limitations for adult sexual abuse and assault lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions, regardless of when the abuse occurred. These revisions to the law resulted in nearly 4,000 lawsuits.
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New York Priests and Clergy Members Accused of Sexual Abuse
In New York, the Office of the Attorney General began investigating sexual abuse at the eight New York Catholic dioceses in September 2018.
In 2019, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York responded by releasing the names of 120 priests and deacons who had been credibly accused of child sexual abuse. Additionally, several individual dioceses have their own websites listing credibly accused clergy members in their parishes.
Archdiocese of New York Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
In May 2026, the Archdiocese of New York proposed an $800 million settlement to resolve over 1,300 abuse claims involving clergy and church staff brought under state lookback laws. The global settlement would end a five-year legal battle that caused the Archdiocese to sell off the majority of its real estate holdings to pay for. Attorney documents suggested that each claimant would receive $250,000.
Additionally, the proposed settlement would require the Archdiocese of New York to maintain a list of credibly accused clergy on its website and update it with any new, substantiated abuse claims.
Diocese of Brooklyn Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
In April 2024, the New York Attorney General announced an agreement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to address its years-long mismanagement of clergy sexual abuse cases. The Diocese applied inconsistent standards to evaluate the credibility of allegations, delayed investigations, and failed to monitor priests accused of abuse. The agreement will require new monitors and policies to mitigate risks and manage allegations of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct.
The Diocese of Brooklyn maintains a list of credibly accused clergy members on its website.
Diocese of Rockville Centre Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
In December 2024, the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island concluded its bankruptcy filing and settled hundreds of sexual abuse claims for just over $323 million. The Rockville diocese initially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2020 after over 200 lawsuits were filed under the Child Victims Act. Since then, the number of abuse suits against the diocese has climbed to at least 500, with cases dating back to the 1950s.
Diocese of Buffalo Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
In October 2022, the New York Attorney General’s office announced a landmark settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The settlement resolves a November 2020 lawsuit that alleged the diocese failed to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis and evaded reforms to investigate and respond to complaints. Instead, the Diocese protected accused priests from consequences.
As part of the settlement, the Buffalo Diocese committed to an accelerated, fully transparent process for addressing sexual abuse complaints. Their management will be subject to review by an independent compliance auditor. Additionally, the Buffalo Diocese announced a settlement in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case that will provide $150 million to survivors of sexual abuse by clergy.
The Diocese of Buffalo maintains a list of credibly accused clergy members on its website.
Diocese of Rochester Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
In September 2025, a federal bankruptcy judge approved a $246 million settlement between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester and about 470 survivors of child sex abuse who brought legal claims against it. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after the passage of the Child Victims Act, as did most of the other New York Catholic dioceses.
Legal Rights & Options for New York Clergy Abuse Survivors
File a Police Report for Clergy Sexual Abuse in New York
Reporting the abuse to the police can generate valuable documentation that can serve as important evidence in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit, even if the abuse occurred years ago. Police investigations may uncover critical evidence for use in both civil and criminal cases.
You can report clergy abuse to local law enforcement where the abuse occurred, or if you believe a child is in imminent risk of abuse, call 911 and contact the New York State Hotline (1-800-342-3720).
Report Clergy Sexual Abuse to a New York Diocese or Religious Institution
Each Catholic diocese in New York has reporting procedures for clergy abuse, and the Archdiocese of New York accepts complaints regarding any of the eight dioceses. The Archdiocese’s online complaint form can be used to report sexual abuse of minors by clergy members, lay employees, or volunteers acting in the name of the church. Complaints about clergy abuse may also be filed by contacting the Victim Assistance Coordinator at victimsassistance@archny.org.
The process for reporting sexual abuse or misconduct by a bishop is slightly different. These reports may be made online at ReportBishopAbuse.org or by calling 1-800-276-1562.
File a New York Clergy Abuse Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse
If you or your child experienced sexual abuse by a clergy member in New York, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit against the church for failing to protect you.
Clergy abuse lawsuits seek compensation for the victim. They can also lead the church to take disciplinary action against the perpetrator. Your ability to file a clergy abuse lawsuit depends on several factors, including the age of the victim when the abuse occurred and the New York statute of limitations.
New York Clergy Sexual Abuse FAQs
Am I Eligible to File a New York Clergy Abuse Lawsuit?
You may be entitled to file a New York clergy abuse lawsuit if you or your child has been sexually abused by a priest, bishop, deacon, lay employee, or volunteer of the church. Your eligibility depends on your age when the abuse occurred and how long ago it occurred, though recent legislative changes in New York have given victims more time to file lawsuits.
How Much Does It Cost to Speak With an NY Clergy Abuse Lawyer?
Most New York clergy abuse lawyers offer free consultations and take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay them anything unless they successfully resolve your case.
Will My Name Be Public if I File a Clergy Abuse Lawsuit?
Your name will not necessarily be made public if you file a clergy abuse lawsuit, especially if the abuse occurred when you were a minor. It is possible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit under a pseudonym at any age, and minors’ names are frequently redacted from documents filed in these types of lawsuits.
What Is the Average Settlement for a New York Clergy Abuse Lawsuit?
While there is no guaranteed settlement amount for a New York clergy abuse lawsuit, many settlements from the Catholic dioceses across the state have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars for each victim.
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